Nuclear Reactor in Central Japan Halted After Steam Leak Near Turbine
Kansai Electric Power Co. halted the No. 3 reactor at its Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, on Friday morning following the detection of a steam leak near a high-pressure turbine. The leak was identified around 4:10 a.m., prompting workers to manually shut down the reactor approximately 15 minutes later as a precautionary measure. The utility company confirmed that the escaping steam did not contain radioactive materials and asserted that there has been no impact on the external environment. Currently, Kansai Electric Power Co. has not provided a timeline for when the reactor will be restarted. The No. 3 unit, which began operations in 1976, holds historical significance as the first nuclear reactor in Japan to operate beyond the standard 40-year service limit under post-Fukushima regulations, having received regulatory approval for an extension. While this unit remains active, decommissioning procedures are currently underway for the two other aging reactors at the Mihama facility. This incident highlights ongoing safety monitoring protocols for older nuclear infrastructure in Japan.
Wire timeline
Nuclear Reactor in Central Japan Halted After Steam Leak Near Turbine
Kansai Electric Power Co. halted the No. 3 reactor at its Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, on Friday morning following the detection of a steam leak near a high-pressure turbine. The leak was identified around 4:10 a.m., prompting workers to manually shut down the reactor approximately 15 minutes later as a precautionary measure. The utility company confirmed that the escaping steam did not contain radioactive materials and asserted that there has been no impact on the external environment. Currently, Kansai Electric Power Co. has not provided a timeline for when the reactor will be restarted. The No. 3 unit, which began operations in 1976, holds historical significance as the first nuclear reactor in Japan to operate beyond the standard 40-year service limit under post-Fukushima regulations, having received regulatory approval for an extension. While this unit remains active, decommissioning procedures are currently underway for the two other aging reactors at the Mihama facility. This incident highlights ongoing safety monitoring protocols for older nuclear infrastructure in Japan.
The Mainichi